Are others cautious in trying to make sure that new neighbours are 'Country Minded,' or at least assessed as being capable of fitting in? We do welcome new people with a bottle of wine and the Parish Magazine which gives Church Services, Local events and details of local businesses but we are also trying to make sure that they are likely to be tolerant to country ways.

We have some existing people who, whilst being good neighbours in many ways, are left out of some topics of conversation on account that they may 'blab' to various authorities about some activity or the presence of some protected species or other. For example there are some people locally who would not be told of bats in the attic or field mice in the old stable, because they might then tell some authority and cause problems.

I guess others feel the same, and can give examples of how new people have brought new and positive contributions into the countryside.

When we moved in to our house we knew nobody in the area, after a few weeks we summoned up courage and trudged the lanes, knocking on doors, introducing ourselves and inviting everybody to a house warming party. Over thirty people turned up and one common question asked of us was "Where do you live?" as it was assumed we had bought the place as a weekend retreat. In fact several people in the area have bought second homes before retiring to them. I don't know if the pro hunting stickers and sheep grazing behind the house helped reinforce the notion that we were more country than townie or not. I suppose that if you keep a few sheep or take your dogs for a walk you soon find a common ground with your neighbours. 

Taking your ram, rather than dog, for a walk on a halter breaks the ice well (and brands you permanently as a nutter, but a harmless one).

                                                                         Dick Plumb

                                                      

 

Just dont do what my uncle did - he took his 3 labs with him to introduce hisself to the new neighbours, off he went with the dogs obediently following,chatting away to the neighbour when one of his dogs seen the new neighbiours cat, ran, caught the cat, shook it todeath and killed it - stone cold - hmmm - not sure how good of terms there on now??

We moved into our village 18 years ago.  We farm and join in many village events, being on several committees. Recently, we held a fundraising event at our house and I was doing my usual job behind the bar. A casual acquantance wandered up whom I had seen many times at village film shows and who has also lived in the area for a long time. He knew the previous owner of our house. However, I was just a little surprised when he paused between sups and said "Who lives here now, then?" !!

Our village seems polarised between horse owners and farmers. When we moved here and made it plain we we wished to farm, the horse owners regarded us as eccentric and in two cases actually became hostile whereas the local farmers could not be more friendly or helpfull. 

hareley farmer:

the horse owners regarded us as eccentric and in two cases actually became hostile whereas the local farmers could not be more friendly

You might have blocked off one of their previous "galloping" fields by farming! Fortunately, horses are fairly few and far between here. One intrepid soul insists on fording the Clun when the water is up to her horse's flanks. As she lives in one of my cottages, I fear my first thought is "Has she paid her rent up to date?" and the second one is "Are we liable if she washes downstream?" 

 

now they have finished cementing the ford at Waterloo maybe that will prove a better place to cross!

A few years ago a new house was built in the village next to the pub; the back garden backed up to one of my corn fields.

 Peter

 

I was working a couple of fields away and noticed that there was a man working laying turf in the back garden, of the new house, and he had lifted out one of the panel of fencing and was dumping barrow load after barrow load of stone and turf off cuts through the gap into the field.This went on all afternoon, and I got to think what to do to stop this man in his tracks. I can down to the farm yard and fitted the grain bucket to the front of the loader and made my way round the tram lines to the house..  Here it took me twenty minuets to fill the tractor bucket, and clear up all the mess.In the meantime the man who had done the tipping was still working laying new turf not twenty paces away, not a word was exchanged.Having loaded up I back tracked back to the yard and made my way down the village to the front of the said house where the turf mans van was parked, and proceeded to empty the contents in the gateway. It was just before his knocking off time, and the people had not moved in, but the man in the garden spent the whole of the next day cleaning up the new tarmac and raking the lawn of soil and stones. All this and not a word was spoken.

The old adage- “Actions speak louder than words” fitted the incident very well.

 

Owd Fred 

 

Apart from the obvious lure of a wodge of building land in the future, burning coals would not convince me to farm in a village situation. Parish councils, residents associations etc will make your business hell. Could all people selling land for building please add convenants on building land to stop grumblers.

 

TeslaCoils:

Could all people selling land for building please add convenants on building land to stop grumblers.

Amen

 

When I started farming 1958 there was five farms in the village centre, with five milking herds of cows criss crossing out to their night or day pastures. Almost everyone in the village worked on the farms or for the estate. Gradually the farms were amalgamated with the farms further out of the village, and mine is the last one. Fortunately I only have suckler cows and arable land, and now only employ part time help only when needed, not too much stink or slurry.Now only two village men in the houses work on farms out of about forty five, nearly all commute anything up to sixty miles to work, and come home pale as a patch of grass under a bucket.Get on with most of them, but some are pig ignorant and never speak to anyone, unless they want a tow out of the village ford or want something, these tend to spoil the community spirit.Very few people here now, who are born and bred villagers,New comers soon get onto all the comities and councils out voting and out numbering true local folk  

Owd Fred

Our old farm was smack bank in the village center. Obviously, no parking so everyone parked on the roadside. We had to get the police to cone it off to enable combine to get in and out. That was back in 1980s. Obviously, we were not overly popular. Still, local council wouldnt let us build a new farmstead out of the vilage would they? They are all on my "special list".